Light pencil



Aug. 30, 1932. Q LEVENE 1,875,048

LIGHT PENCIL Filed Dec. l5, 1930 www . y Md-@M7 ,47T ya Patented Aug.30, 1932 UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE GEORGE LEVENE, l' NOBWOOD,IABSACHUSEITS, ASSIGNOB T0 IABSACHUSETTS HE- IOBILJ-r HOSPITALS, OIE'BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHU- SETTE man rauen.

Application led December 13, 1930. lerlal lo. 502,019.

This invention relates to devices for marking photographic films, platesor other sens1- tized sheets, and has for its principal object' theprovision of a compact and handy utensil which may be used in the mannerof a pencil and which is provided with an apertured tip adapted todirect a beam of light onto the film or plate when the pencil is movedover a sensitized surface, thereby to expose traced characters, words orother indicia to bereproduced upon ensuing prints of the developedsheet.

More specifically, the purposes of the invention are to provide a lightpencil in which the working end or tip is movable longltudinally of acasing containing a light source and a source of current for the light,the light source being automatically energized upon inward movement ofthe t1p caused by pressure upon the sheet; and to provide a tip whichconstitutes a light filter preventing the spread of actinic rays butpermitting safe Alight to illuminate the region surrounding the tip tofacilitate the marking of sensitive sheets in a dark room. These andother features of the invention will be evident from the followingdescription and will be pointed out in the appended claims, it beingunderstood that the invention is not intended to be limited to thespecific form or details of the present disclosure.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of the improved light pencil;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the pencil in position for use.

In the particular embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustration, theimproved pencil comprises a cylindrical casing 4 having a threaded capor closure 5 at its rearward end and a removable tube 6 mounted at itsforward end; a marking tip 7 slidable axially within the tube 6 andhaving a tapered projecting nose 8; a normally extinguished electriclamp bulb 9 or other light source supported within the casing tube; anda common type of battery 10 also mounted in the casing and constitutinga source of current for the vlight 9. The arrangement is such that thelamp is automatically energized upon inward movement of the tip 7caused, for cxample, by pressin the nose 8 upon the sensitized sheet;and te tip has an axial opening 11 therethrough permitting the passageof light from the bulb 9 and directing the beam of light upon thesenstitized surface to expose the plate or film.

The nose 8 at least of the working tip is preferably so constructed asto provide a light lter permitting (in addition to the light directedthrough the aperture 11) general distribution of light to Which thesurface is substantially insensitive. For this purpose, the tip may beformed of colored Celluloid or other treated, semi-transparent materialwhich obstructs the emission of the actinic rays; or the surface of thenose 8 of a tip formed of clear glass or the like may be painted orotherwise coatedy or covered with colored matter or material havingsimilar properties. For ordinary films or plates the filter will be rubycolored; whereas panchromatic sheets require a green filter. It will beunderstood that the marking operation should be performed in the usualdark room; and it is thus apparent that the safe light emitted throughthe marking tip substantially increases the visibility of the darkenedsheet and the nose of the moving pencil. Hence, the writer is enabled tomark legibly upon the sheet 12 when the pencil is pressed downgardlythereon in the manner indicated in Although in this aspect of theinvention the tip may be fixed with respect to the casing and the lightenergized by a suitable switch, a particular feature of the illustratedconstruction resides in the provision of circuit closing means operableupon inward movement of the slidable tip 7. To this end, the bulb ismovably mounted within the casing so that it is carried intocircuit-closing position with respect to the battery 10 by the motion ofthe marking tip when the nose 8 is pressed upon the film or plate. Itwill be observed that outward movement of the tip is limited byanannular flange 13 at the cas- 'l disclosure fis for the purpose(if-illustration ing mouth .which engages a complemental shoulder 14 lonthe -tip and that in such position the lamp is extinguished. v 1 I Thebase of bulb 9 is mounted in a-socket 15 fixed in a slidable tubularmember or holdv er 16 which extends forwardly to serve asa shield forthe bulb and preferably seats against the inner end of the tip 7, asindi* cated at 17. The bulb holder and marking tip are yieldingly heldin outward position `by means of a helical s pring 18 interposedb'etween the socket 15 an the end of the battery 10, thus normallyspacin the contacts 19 and 20 of the bulb base and attery respectively.

As shown in Fig. 3, these contacts are closed.`

upon inward movement of the Vmarking 'tip and light the bulb.

As iu the usuul hund flashlight the circuit. of the battery case mayinclude a spring`21 bearing against the casing cap 5, the casing 4 and aswitch element electrically connecting the casing and the lamp socket15. In this instance the circuit from casing t'osocket may hecontinuously closed by sliding engagement of the tube 16 with the wallof the casing or it maybe closed through the spring 18 by providing aconductor such as the screw 22 which -is engaged by the compressedspring (Fig. 3). In either event the'lamp is illuminatedras soon as thecontacts 19 and'20 are closed, and is extinguished when these contactsare opened.

In the structure illustrated, the screw 22 also serves to secure thecasino' 4 and its removable end tube 6 in axial alignment; and it isevident that the various elements may be assembled within the devicebefore the casing is closed by applying the end portion 6. The tube 6lits over a sleeve 23 suitably fixed in the casing part 4, and the screw22 is threaded in registering apertures in the tube and sleeverespectively, and extends inwardly toward the spring 18. These and otherstructural details of the light pencil herein describedv may, however,be varied to suit particular purposes without departing from the essenceof this invention as delined in thefollowing claims.

It is apparent that a marking device constructed in accordance with thisinvention is easy to manufacture and assemble, simple to operate andparticularly compact and convenient to use. The desired markings arereadily traced upon the photographic film or plate by pressing themarking tip upon the sheet and moving it thereover in the manner of awriting pen or pencil; the safe light .emitted through the filter tipenables the writer clearly to see and follow the area to be traced byexposure of light through the tip aperture; and the automatic switcharrange- A.f.' n1ent ensures that the light will be extin- It should,be-understood that the present onl'v and v'that this" inventionincludes all I claim': -1. lA pencil v for marking a. sensitized withintheA scope ofthe appended claims.

sheen-comprising a casing provided with a tip movablelongitudinallythereof, a light source within the casing,`andmeansoperative upon'inward movement ofthe tip for electrically energizing thelight source, the

tip constituting a filter preventing the passage of actinic light rayswhile permitting the emission of 'fnon-actinic rays, and the tip havingan opening therethrough communicating with the light source so thatv thesheet -is exposed by said light when the tip is pressed thereon.

2. A pencil for marking a sensitized sheet, comprising a casing, a lightsource within thev casing, and a marking ti at one end thereof, the tipconstituting a ter preventing the passage of actinic light rays while'permitting the emission of non-actinic rays, and the tip having anopening therethrough communicating with the light source so that thesheet is exposed when the tip is moved over its sensitized surface. v

3. A pencil for marking a sensitized sheet, comprising a casing, a,light source Within the casing, and a marking tip atone lend thereof,the tip being made of material.

which prevents the passage of actinic light rays but permits theemission of non-actinic rays, and the tip having an opening therethroughcommunicating with the light source so that the sheet is exposed whenthe tip is moved over its sensitized surface.

4. A pencil for marking a sensitized sheet, comprising a casing, a lightsource GEORGE LEVENE.

